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Jerome Anthony, 40, and Jim Moeller, 73 (in back seat), both of Detroit, look out while on patrol on Tuesday, October 30, 2012 around the Morningside Community in East Detroit. / Jarrad Henderson/Detroit Free Press

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Detroit residents are ready to patrol their neighborhoods over the Halloween period starting Tuesday night to help prevent arsons, especially in vacant structures.

The annual Angels’ Night volunteer effort is credited with radically reducing the number of intentionally set fires at the end of each October. The observance this year runs Tuesday through Thursday. Teams of residents, block clubs, community groups and churches are to conduct street patrols.

“We are asking residents and our friends from metro Detroit to join us again this year in our efforts to protect our city during this period,” Bing said in a statement earlier this month about the effort. He plans to be on the streets starting Tuesday evening with police, firefighters and volunteers.

The program is a long-running response to what used to be known as Devil’s Night, the day before Halloween. In 1984, the city had more than 800 fires during the period. Last year, 93 fires were reported.

Flint has a similar program. Ahead of this week’s efforts, Flint fire Chief David Cox Jr. and his firefighters walked the city streets telling residents about how they can report suspected arson. Cox said Flint plans increased police and fire patrols, and will seek help from other area departments if needed.

At its 1994 peak, there were 200-plus Devil’s Night fires there. According to The Flint Journal, the city had six fires last year.

“That night has always been a thorn in this department’s side,” Cox said.

In Detroit, officials plan to enforce two emergency ordinances this week in the effort to prevent fires. One is an emergency curfew for minors, which requires anyone who is 17 years or under to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for two nights starting Tuesday.

“During the emergency curfew hours, minors will be allowed to travel to and from work or educational or training programs, but they must carry proof of employment or attendance,” the city said in a statement. Parents may be ticketed if a child violates the curfew.

Also in Detroit, fuel may not be dispensed into portable containers until the end of the day Thursday except in certain emergency situations.